Allen County commissioners Tuesday accepted an option to give Iola Industries opportunity to build apartments on the old Allen County Hospital property.
The economic development group exercised the option with a $10,000 payment. Another $10,000 will finalize the transaction.
Although, “we still have a lot of work to do,” said John McRae, president of Iola Industries, the supposition is that apartment complexes will be built north and east of the future G&W Foods grocery and other housing to the south, along Madison Avenue.
Commissioner Jim Talkington, who eventually initiated action to trigger the option, said he had concerns about line of vision at the curve, from a long-standing retaining wall on the inside of a sidewalk, and the effect of an apartment building.
“I hope we can slow traffic there,” from the current 35 mph to 25, he said, or find some other means of protecting middle school students who often cross the street. An assumption is that the grocery will increase traffic there.
City Administrator Carl Slaugh said Iola’s Planning Commission would have to rule on plans, with the City Commission having final say.
David Toland, who works in economic development as well as directing Thrive Allen County, said his hope was to reduce the highway from four lanes to three — one in each direction and a turning lane in the middle, with bicycle lanes on the outside.
With no crosswalks between Kentucky and Buckeye streets on U.S. 54, Toland said he was eager to make the thoroughfare safer for pedestrians.
“I love that Iola Industries has stepped forward,” Talkington said, with “my only concern being keeping the line of sight in open. Redoing the lanes (as Toland suggested) would just take a bunch of paint,” and authority from the Kansas Department of Transportation, which has last say with highways.
In revisiting his argument, Talkington said he would prefer not having an apartment building north of the grocery. Toland’s retort: “There were structures there before,” and that with a grade difference of four to five feet “sight wouldn’t be blocked by what’s above. Cost of putting the highway level (with the store) would be significant.”
County Commission signs housing option
